Monday, January 6, 2014

In early November, members of the New Mexico Green Party received a letter from Secretary of State Dianna Duran’s office that caused some confusion — right before a high-profile election in the state’s largest city.

“Dear Green Party registered voter,” the message began. “In the 2012 General Election, the Green Party’s candidate for president of the United States did not receive the required percentage required by law for the Green Party to remain an active political party in New Mexico.”

The state election code says a party shall “cease to be qualified” if its candidate for president or governor fail to receive at least one-half of 1 percent of the total votes cast for president or governor, or if the party doesn’t have any candidates on the ballot in two consecutive general elections. Green Party candidate Jill Stein received just above one-third of 1 percent of the vote.

“The Secretary of State’s Office is required by law to notify all registered Green Party voters that the party is no longer a qualified political party,” the letter, signed by Elections Bureau Director Bobbie Shearer said.